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Logan M
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No. Some conditions are needed on the $a_i$ and $p_i$. For instance, take n=2, $a_1 = a_2 = 2$, $p_1 = p_2 = 2$. Then $x = 2 \sqrt{2}$, which has minimal polynomial $x^2 - 8$. As an even simpler example, n=1, $a_1 = 2$, $p_1 = 4$, then $x$ is rational.

For a less trivial example, take $a_1= 4$, $a_2 = 6$, $p_1=p_2=2$. Check that this has a polynomial of degree 12. In fact, this isn't really true at all.

One can, however, prove that the degree of the minimal polynomial is at most $\prod a_n$, which is an easy exercise in field theory. Any graduate algebra textbook covering Galois theory will be more than sufficient to prove this; just remember the degree of the minimal polynomial is the same as the dimension of the extension field viewed as a vector space over the base field.

EDIT:

After much miscommunication on my part, we've reached the following results:

Suppose $a_1,\ldots,a_n$ are pairwise relatively prime positive integers, $p_1, \ldots, p_n$ integers such that $\sqrt[a_i]{p_i}$ is of degree $a_i$ for each i. Then $\sqrt[a_1]{p_1} + \cdots + \sqrt[a_n]{p_n}$ is of degree $\displaystyle \prod_{i=1}^n a_i$.

The condition that each $\sqrt[a_i]{p_i}$ is met (by Eisenstein Criterion) should there be a prime $q_i$ such that $q_i | p_i$ and $q_i^2 \not{|} p_i$ for each i.

No. Some conditions are needed on the $a_i$ and $p_i$. For instance, take n=2, $a_1 = a_2 = 2$, $p_1 = p_2 = 2$. Then $x = 2 \sqrt{2}$, which has minimal polynomial $x^2 - 8$. As an even simpler example, n=1, $a_1 = 2$, $p_1 = 4$, then $x$ is rational.

For a less trivial example, take $a_1= 4$, $a_2 = 6$, $p_1=p_2=2$. Check that this has a polynomial of degree 12. In fact, this isn't really true at all.

One can, however, prove that the degree of the minimal polynomial is at most $\prod a_n$, which is an easy exercise in field theory. Any graduate algebra textbook covering Galois theory will be more than sufficient to prove this; just remember the degree of the minimal polynomial is the same as the dimension of the extension field viewed as a vector space over the base field.

No. Some conditions are needed on the $a_i$ and $p_i$. For instance, take n=2, $a_1 = a_2 = 2$, $p_1 = p_2 = 2$. Then $x = 2 \sqrt{2}$, which has minimal polynomial $x^2 - 8$. As an even simpler example, n=1, $a_1 = 2$, $p_1 = 4$, then $x$ is rational.

For a less trivial example, take $a_1= 4$, $a_2 = 6$, $p_1=p_2=2$. Check that this has a polynomial of degree 12. In fact, this isn't really true at all.

One can, however, prove that the degree of the minimal polynomial is at most $\prod a_n$, which is an easy exercise in field theory. Any graduate algebra textbook covering Galois theory will be more than sufficient to prove this; just remember the degree of the minimal polynomial is the same as the dimension of the extension field viewed as a vector space over the base field.

EDIT:

After much miscommunication on my part, we've reached the following results:

Suppose $a_1,\ldots,a_n$ are pairwise relatively prime positive integers, $p_1, \ldots, p_n$ integers such that $\sqrt[a_i]{p_i}$ is of degree $a_i$ for each i. Then $\sqrt[a_1]{p_1} + \cdots + \sqrt[a_n]{p_n}$ is of degree $\displaystyle \prod_{i=1}^n a_i$.

The condition that each $\sqrt[a_i]{p_i}$ is met (by Eisenstein Criterion) should there be a prime $q_i$ such that $q_i | p_i$ and $q_i^2 \not{|} p_i$ for each i.

Source Link
Logan M
  • 1.1k
  • 2
  • 14
  • 16

No. Some conditions are needed on the $a_i$ and $p_i$. For instance, take n=2, $a_1 = a_2 = 2$, $p_1 = p_2 = 2$. Then $x = 2 \sqrt{2}$, which has minimal polynomial $x^2 - 8$. As an even simpler example, n=1, $a_1 = 2$, $p_1 = 4$, then $x$ is rational.

For a less trivial example, take $a_1= 4$, $a_2 = 6$, $p_1=p_2=2$. Check that this has a polynomial of degree 12. In fact, this isn't really true at all.

One can, however, prove that the degree of the minimal polynomial is at most $\prod a_n$, which is an easy exercise in field theory. Any graduate algebra textbook covering Galois theory will be more than sufficient to prove this; just remember the degree of the minimal polynomial is the same as the dimension of the extension field viewed as a vector space over the base field.